Editor’s note – Phyllis Barajas is Founder & CEO of Conexión and a member of the AIM Board of Directors. The her column marks Hispanic Heritage Month, today through October 15.

by Phyllis Barajas

This year marks Conexión’s 20th Anniversary, a milestone that coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the many contributions of HispanicLatinos to our nation. Latin roots run deep in the Americas, long before the Pilgrims and other European immigrants arrived. Our heritage is not only history, it’s the foundation of our shared future. 

At Conexión, demographics matter. By the middle of the 21st century, the United States will be majority-minority. That reality calls on today’s leaders to act with vision and responsibility, ensuring that the tomorrows we shape are brighter than the yesterdays for our children and generations to come.

One of our mentors reminded us recently of the power of simply choosing “to care”—to extend our concern beyond ourselves and invest in comunidad. This is at the heart of Conexión. Our network thrives because mentors and mentees alike value genuine connection, bringing diverse experiences, cultures, and perspectives together.

Our mentors, many not of Latin heritage, volunteer because they care deeply. They give back, and they also gain. As Joe DiLorenzo, President of MD Group Consulting Inc., shared: “Mentoring is a chance to offer perspective, especially to those navigating challenging career paths. If I can help someone avoid a mistake I once made—or simply help them feel seen—it’s worth it.”, And former mentee now Mentor, Nurys Camargo, AVP Member Services, AIM, offered: “The relationships with mentees have provided me with fresh perspectives, continuous learning, and inspiration, reminding me of the resilience, creativity, and potential in every individual.” 

Our mentees, in turn, are breaking barriers and leading change: 

• Nurys Camargo, while still a Conexión mentee, in 2011, founded Chica Project, creating a space for young Latinas to build skills, networks, and confidence.

• Dr. Sylvia Rosas, Joslin Diabetes Center, Director of the Latino Kidney Clinic; Immediate Past President, of the National Kidney Foundation, nephrologist and epidemiologist, bringing her expertise and lived experience to address disparities in minority health

• Gonzalo Puigbo, now CEO of Somerville CDC, drew from his own immigrant journey and career in US banking to expand HispanicLatino homeownership, even teaching First Time Home Buyer classes in Spanish on Saturdays. Today, he continues to expand access to housing for new buyers and renters, deepening the impact of his work

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and our 20th Anniversary, we focus not only on the past but the possibilities ahead. It is a reminder that our strength lies in caring, connecting, and creating opportunity, together in comunidad.

Conexión will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Thursday, October 23, 2025, 6:30 pm, at the Museum of Science in Boston.